MONTPELIER — The Vermont House is poised to pass the first significant change in years to the state’s education funding system.

The bill the House is expected to give final approval to Thursday is designed to reduce the growth in education funding.

Vermont’s statewide education funding system uses a combination of taxes to provide a basic funding amount. Schools that opt to spend more are penalized.

One change being considered would be to reduce the penalty for schools that spend more than 25 percent above the statewide average. Over a period of time, that threshold would be reduced to 21 percent.